I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Saturday 15 July 2017

Natural Oxides

Hello all!  It's been quiet here again at Words and Pictures, but I'm coming to the end of my New York work stint now - exciting and stimulating, but full-on and pretty exhausting - so hopefully things will be back on a more even keel soon.

I'm stopping in today to share a quick pair of tags using a couple of the new Oxide colours... mainly the lovely new natural neutrals so far - the Antique Linen and the Frayed Burlap (already in love), mixed with some Peeled Paint Oxide and a couple of others, as well as a few original Distress Inks.


I was just playing around on my one day off, and ended up with this pair of nature tags.








The leafy one came first.  I started with a dipped and dabbed background using the Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap DOXs and some Walnut Stain DI.













There's endless delight in the effects you can achieve with a few layers and spritzes of water.











I stamped the leafy branch from the latest PaperArtsy Scrapcosy releases, using Wow Bark powder to emboss it, and coloured it in using the DOXs and a waterbrush.

I mixed Peeled Paint on my craft mat with some Iced Spruce and some of the new Lucky Clover to get my various greens on the leaves.












The acorn had layers of Vintage Photo, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral and Antique Linen until I liked the look of it.  And the branch has some Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen.











Because of the opaque pigment ink in the magic Oxide formula, you get good coverage even over quite a busy background, as I had here.  And the Bark embossing of the stamping means the detail of the images survives the colouring in.






I used one of my own new PaperArtsy word stamps from EAB01 Trees and Flowers, stamped in black and embossed with Wow Bark embossing powder.

The gloss and dimension of the embossing helps the words stand out against the ink whirls and splotches.











This next one wasn't really intended as a partner tag when I started out, but it travelled in that direction as I went.  I don't seem to have any making-of photos - I was just messing around, really.

This started with a much paler background, mainly Antique Linen DOX, over which I stencilled the brickwork in Frayed Burlap DOX, using Scrapcosy's new stencils.  










You can also see the Scrapcosy stencils in action with Walnut Stain DOX in this lovely PostCard lettering...















... as well as the stamp-edge frames.















The Tim Holtz flower is stamped partly in Peeled Paint DOX, clear-embossed...












... and partly in Antique Linen DOX, which I then embossed in Wow Vanilla White for more definition.

I used a waterbrush to add some Wild Honey DOX to the flower heads...















... and the same waterbrush and Peeled Paint DOX worked well to add some soft mossy/lichen effects to the brickwork.















The sentiment - again one of mine from EAB01 Trees and Flowers - is stamped in Peeled Paint DOX and clear-embossed.
















If I were at home, I'd probably have added some die-cut ivy to the wallflower tag to echo the words, and maybe some minimal metalwork to both of them, but that will just have to wait a few more days!

Both tags are finished off with some Idea-ology Linen Ribbon, stained with Walnut Stain DI, and have had some Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and/or Ground Espresso DI inking around the edges for a more aged look.




















Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you all have a lovely weekend.  I'm working all the way through it and then packing and flying home on Monday, but I hope to be able to do some visiting (and some more crafting) once I've landed and caught up on some much-needed sleep!


Happy crafting all!

There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer.
Calvin Coolidge

38 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous tags, wonderful colours - definitely my fave colours. Have fun in NY, hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

what beautiful tags - I love the embossing! I've got my new oxides, waiting to play hopefully tomorrow! hope you'll have a bit of relaxing time when you get home.

Amanda said...

Indeed beautiful tags, got mine too loving the new colours and they look fabulous on both these tags
Live
Amanda x

chrissie said...

Wonderful tags with a natural beauty that shines through all the hard work.

Sounds like you are doing a lot of hard work but I am hoping there is also time for play and you have taken lots of photographs to share with us again

Take care

Hugs Chrissie xx

Nikki Acton said...

So my mojo may just be slowly returning after seeing these! Loving your neutral DOX tags and the embossing over the top. Safe trip by home... Be good to have you back xxx

Cestina said...

Excellent tags and I love the Coolidge quote. I must remember to keep opening the curtains which are usually closed because of the sun. There are the hills and the trees straight opposite. What more could one want? Travel well xx

craftytrog said...

Love these beauties Alison! xx

Annie said...

Your tags are stunning Alison and I truly love the way your own stamps add to the natural appeal of the leaves ad flowers.
Wishing you a safe journey back home and I hope you manage to rest awhile as you have had a pretty busy few months

Take care
Annie xx

Evil Edna said...

beautifully vintage

Julia said...

Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap oxides are both on my wish list for the new release. They look stunning on your tags. I hope we can get then individually here in the UK soon. I really like the bark embossing, it works really well with the nature theme and lovely to see you using your new word stamps too. Love the tags. xx

Dorthe said...

Oh Alison, they are both wonderful little art tags. I do love your way with them both, the lovely new colors ( ordered them both ) and the embossing, gives extra highlight to the soft oxides, and love your own stamp quotes, they are on my wishlist for next month..... too many birthdays this month :-). You always gives nature first prize in your stunning creations, and I love it. Have a safe travel home, when soon you return . Hugs, Dorthe

Marjut said...

Beautiful tags.

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous tags and the new colours are gorgeous.
Have a safe journey home.
Yvonne xx

Lys said...

Gorgeous tags with a great combination of colours, and a perfect finish with your stamped sentiments.

Nan G said...

Wow wow! Your clever use of the DOX and embossing powders just Wows me. So yes, I love these tags!

Redanne said...

Beautiful tags Alison, I really love how you used two different embossing colours on the second one, it is so effective. I cannot wait for my new oxide colours to arrive now, the Antique Linen looks beautiful! And, of course, I love your new stamps, I am thrilled to have been given a set for my birthday - lucky me!! Hope you have a good journey home and manage to catch up on some rest. Hugs, Anne xx

hazel said...

Wonderful tags Alison.
xxx Hazel.

Julie Lee said...

Fabulous backgrounds on these beautiful nature tags. My special favourite is the acorn one. I was out walking yesterday and the tiny acorns forming on the oak trees were so lovely. There is something incredibly appealing about oak leaves and acorns!Hope you get plenty of art time when you return home. xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Fabulous tags!

Paper Profusion said...

Beautifully organic Alison and gorgeous use of the Oxides! I have a set of your wonderful stamps and really hope to ink them very very soon - they look fab!! Happy travels home! Nicola x

Anke said...

Wonderful tags, so lovely.

Hugs
Anke

Brenda Brown said...

Absolutely delightful xxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh My Alison! Just realised as I was scrolling down that my mouth had fallen open!!! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Hugs, Chrisx

Hazel Agnew said...

Amazing how well you can create while away from home. Love the tags and the colours are sublime. Love the earthy tones. I have the new set of oxides but not unwrapped them yet! Maybe today will be the day! Xx

Willy said...

Wow beautiful, love the technique!!

Sue said...

What beautiful tags Alison, you really know how to make these Oxides sing! xx

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous tags, love the new colours - just waiting for mine to arrive.
By now you will have arrived home, enjoy catching up on your sleep.
Avril xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Beautiful and yesssss, those new colours are wonderful, - can't wait for mine to arrive

Fliss said...

Only just saw these Alison and they're truly stunning! Love the use of those soft neutral oxides which are perfect for nature themed creations and your beautiful tags really show them off to full effect.
Fliss xx

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

thank you sharing the process of creating these adorable tags. anxious to return home Sunday and start playing with my oxides.

Lucy said...

I feel compelled to add my voice to the crowd. These tags are so beautiful. They are works of art. And then I love the Calvin Coolidge quote at the end. Inspiring. Thank you. Lucy

rachel said...

these are so very beautiful Alison - gorgeous natural tones and beautiful stamps - lovely work xx

Anneke said...

Beautiful. Thankyou for your explanation. I want to give it a try.

maj. said...

Fabulous! Great backgrounds and the embossed stamps!

Jackie PN said...

Just stunning! These remind me of pages from and old vintage horticulture book! xx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Lovely as always. I admit to not understanding why we have to have oxide inks to go with the other inks but I do understand that there are an awful lot of ink junkies out there, so perhaps I answered my own question. I do feel that both tags are crying out for some rusty wire.

Scrapcosy said...

Beautiful!! And I love how you created all those green tones with oxides! The acorn branch just pops so much. My stamps are in very good hands :) The Distress Oxide background is beautiful and your quotes are just great, perfect combination! And the other tag is also great! Now I want to go back to my craft table.... Thanks for sharing Alison! :)

Cocofolies said...

Two awesome tags again!!! Sorry for the late comment on this great post.
My favourite is the second one, automnal and so beautiful. xx